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Why We Desperately Need Human-Centred Leaders

Sales Trend 9 of the Barrett 12 Sales Trends Report for 2023 is about the rise of human-centred leadership principles and practices.

By guest author DUANE ATTREE // former Managing Director of POTENTIAL(X), Chief Commercial & Development Officer, BEAMTREE and now EXPLORER AT LARGE, in collaboration with Sue Barrett.

In 30 seconds

Leadership in the past 50-70 years emphasised charisma, strength, and wealth, but this model faces challenges. Current global issues, stagnating productivity, and employee disengagement demand a shift towards human-centred leadership. This approach prioritises people, empathy, and inclusivity, extending beyond technical skills. Empathy, particularly, is crucial for understanding others’ …

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The Tricky Business of Discounts

In 30 seconds

Asking for a discount can be customary or a signal of needing expense justification. For businesses, avoiding unnecessary discounts is crucial. Discounting devalues offerings, sets poor examples, and erodes trust. The key here is to understand the reason behind the haggling. Then you can either consider meaningfully adjusting your solution to your customer’s budget if that is the issue or offering an add-on. However, any extra offering must align with the solution and add value to it. Transparently communicate value, tailor solutions, and provide meaningful add-ons. This not only builds trust but also enhances your reputation as a …

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The Stuff No One Teaches You About Human Engagement

In 30 seconds

We all need to know how to engage, relate, and persuade people. It’s part of life. So, how do we learn to make memorable introductions, deliver compelling presentations, effectively position ourselves for career promotions, and navigate our way through a myriad of human relationships without falling to pieces? When it comes to presenting and engaging with others, a lack of skills can fill people with fear, especially when you’ve never been taught how to manage yourself in these situations. I see this all the time. As one MBA student told me recently on a Narrative, Presence and Presentation …

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Beyond the Transaction

In 30 seconds

Selling is much more than completing transactions, particularly in B2B and complex B2C environments. Delivering value is crucial for building long-term relationships with customers. To shift to value-based selling, you can start with this 4-step approach:

  • Focus on customer needs
  • Shift to consultative selling
  • Demonstrate ROI
  • Collaborate with customers
  • By moving beyond transactions and adopting a value-based selling approach, businesses can better meet these expectations and build stronger, better customer relationships.

    In 2 minutes

    In the past, sales were often focused solely on completing transactions. However, in today’s market and particularly in B2B and complex B2C environments, customers expect more from the sales and service …

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    Stacking Up Sales: Developing Sales Technology

    In 30 seconds

    Developing sales technology stacks is crucial for businesses that want to improve their sales processes. By implementing key components such as CRM, marketing automation tools, and sales enablement platforms, businesses can increase efficiency, better analyse data, and provide an improved customer experience. While there may be challenges in integrating these technologies and considering costs, the benefits far outweigh the obstacles. Investing in sales technology stacks can lead to significant improvements in overall sales performance and ultimately drive business growth.

    In 2.5 minutes

    In today’s fast-paced AI emergent business environment, it’s more important than ever to have the right tools and …

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    Engaging, Human-centred Sales Strategies

    In 30 seconds

    Sales Strategy is essential to business success. It is how the business organises its sales efforts across the value chain to go to market and determine who you are going to sell to and how to create real value within the given market. A human-centred sales strategy builds trust and transparency within the sales team and with clients. To succeed, businesses must understand evolving customer needs, collaborate, make it easy to buy from them, and maintain competitiveness. Adopting an engaging, human-centred sales approach with an adaptive strategy and change management system benefits business ethics and the bottom line.

    In 2.5 …

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    Beyond Growthism: Selling Better for a Sustainable Future

    In 30 seconds

    Business growth and selling more are usually a top priority for business leaders, and this has been the case for the last 50 years But, our societies -with the rise of inequalities- and our planet -of limited resources and in a state of environmental degradation- cannot sustain growthism (growth for the sake of growing) anymore. We must look for better ways of doing business, models that deliver better outcomes for business, people, and the planet.

    In 2 minutes

    Business growth and selling more are usually a top priority for business leaders.

    ‘How do we sell more? How do we grow market …

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    Leading With Clarity & Courage

    In 30 seconds

    Command and control or administration-focused leaders hinder progress and create toxic environments. Servant and transformational leadership styles provide better alternatives. By prioritising employees’ needs, fostering communication, and encouraging innovation, servant leaders create thriving organisations. Transformational leaders inspire growth, building positive work environments. Effective leadership demands courage and clarity, enabling tough decision-making and transparent communication. Inspiring teams requires articulating a vision, embracing risk, and instilling confidence. By fostering trust and collaboration, leaders drive sustainable outcomes.

    In 2.5 minutes

    What type of leader would you prefer?

    • One who likes to control everything and everyone around them, only letting people know something if it …

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    What Consumers Want

    In 30 seconds

    Consumers now demand transparency from businesses. They want -and have the right- to know how and where their products were made, the environmental impact, how the business treats their employees, and how much tax they pay. B2C and B2B clients also expect omni buying channels with access to a human when they need or want to. With the increase in online transactions and businesses storing more of our data and behaviours, the risk of data breaches is growing, clients want to know how their data is used and protected. Transparency can be the great equaliser. Consumers –B2C and …

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    Reflect, Adapt, and Succeed: The Stop-Start-Keep Approach

    In 30 seconds

    It’s the end of the financial year in Australia, and it’s a good time to recognise our successes and reflect on what we’ve learned on the financial year 22/23.

    At Barrett we use the “Stop, Start and Keep doing” tool:

  • Stop – What do I/we want to Stop Doing? Identify practices, behaviours, or processes that don’t work for you/your team. This way you can phase it out.
  • Start – What do I/we want to Start Doing? Identify new practices, behaviours, thoughts, or processes that could bring positive change.
  • Keep doing: What do I/we want to Keep Doing? Acknowledge what works and successes …
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